The European Commission has flagged a significant crack-down on non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) which will impact on forklift manufacturers, vendors and end-users.

The EC this week released proposals providing for "more stringent emission limit values for internal combustion engines installed in (these vehicles). At the same time, it sets out harmonised rules for placing those engines on the EU market."

Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, EC Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, says the changes will "lead to a very significant reduction of air pollution emissions and hence protect the health of European citizens". He adds that they will also help European suppliers "to reap the full benefits of the internal market and to help EU enterprises to be more successful abroad".

Emission limits and approval procedures for engines in NRMM are currently set out in Directive 97/68/EC and its subsequent amendments.

The European administration is proposing a number of key changes including:
* Introduction of new emission limits reflecting technological progress and EU policies in the on-road sector, with a view to achieving EU air quality targets;
* Extension of scope, with a view to improving market harmonisation (EU and international) and minimising the risk of market distortions;
* Introduction of measures for simplifying administrative procedures and improving enforcement, including conditions for better market surveillance.

Europe's key materials handling lobby group, FEM, has responded swiftly, calling for an extension of the current transition scheme " to avoid disproportionate R&D efforts in a short period of time".

European materials handling equipment manufacturers have already achieved impressive results in reducing exhaust emissions of their products. For instance, a cut in emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen-oxide by 95% and 96%, respectively, was achieved in most engine power categories, according to FEM.

The group claims to support the Commission's proposal overall, welcoming its new transition scheme. However, FEM argues that the timetable does not allow enough time for equipment manufacturers to redesign their products.

Provisions on ATEX, separate shipments, in-service conformity and field-test engines are also supported.

FEM takes exception to the scope of the proposed changes, arguing that "the proposed application dates combined with the engine categories affected will make it impossible to maintain a balance between a timely engine implementation and the ongoing efforts of our manufacturers to increase the efficiency of their products".

FEM secretary general Olivier Janin points out that the creation of a large 19-56 kW engine power category "results in our industrial trucks manufacturers facing massive R&D efforts in a very short period of time".

Mobile crane manufacturers are facing a similar problem of R&D overheat due to the large number of models they manufacture in one single power category, he adds.

"Mobile cranes manufacturers offer some 170 models in the 130-560 kW engine power category with only a few machines produced annually for each model. Moreover, they are very dependent on the engine manufacturers to have a timely supply of engines," says Janin. "Therefore, mobile cranes manufacturers may be faced with the obligation of redesigning their machines in one year, which is simply impossible."

FEM is requesting an extension of the transition period, so as to give manufacturers the necessary time to redesign their machines without suspending sales.

It is also calling for a provision on replacement engines. "Our internal investigations showed that only a few replacement engines are used every year but a significant proportion of them are newly built ones. Our manufacturers need this possibility to be preserved, at least during the foreseen legal warranty period," Janin states.

FEM will take an official position with concrete proposals in the coming weeks, he concludes.